West Trenton, N.J. – Prior
to the tragic story of the three-year-old Las Vegas Girl whose videotaped
rape made recent national news, the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology
Investigations Unit began coordinating a takedown of people transmitting
child molestation images on the Internet. Today at the Regional Operations Intelligence
Center at State Police Headquarters, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
the results of the sweeping child pornography investigation dubbed Operation
Silent Shield that resulted in 41 arrests.

“Child pornography is not a victimless crime,’’ Attorney
General Anne Milgram said. “We are committed to combating abuse
and predatory behavior against children.’’

“Many who have sexually assaulted children started down that
road with child porn. This operation places a roadblock in their
path. Those convicted of the charges announced today will become
registered sex offenders and no longer be able to fly under the radar,” said
Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

Operation Silent Shield, led by the NJSP Digital Technology Investigations
Unit (DTIU), targeted offenders who distributed known images and videos
of child pornography via the Internet. The most commonly used images
have unique digital thumbprints that can be identified as they are
sent electronically. State Police detectives filtered for these
thumbprints and traced the senders and receivers who live in New Jersey.

The investigation began in August of 2007. The
investigation encompassed 15 counties and numerous local,
county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

During the past 10 days, search warrants have been executed
across the state, resulting in the arrests of individuals
for Possession and/or Distribution of Child Pornography,
a violation of the Endangering the Welfare of a Child statute,
NJ2C:24-4. Additionally, a large volume of evidence, including
computers and other digital media, has been confiscated
and will be forensically examined for evidentiary value.
This crime constitutes the continued victimization of the
children associated with these images and videos.

The NJSP-DTIU is designated by the federal Department
of Justice as one of 46 Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) Regional Task Forces. The New Jersey ICAC
Task Force includes 9 county and 6 local law enforcement
agencies throughout New Jersey. The NJ ICAC Task Forces,
in addition to investigating crimes against children committed
via the Internet, provides technical training to local
and county law enforcement and Internet Safety lectures
to parents,children, teachers and community groups. Additionally,
the NJ ICAC Task Force works in parnership with the 45
other regional ICAC Task Forces, on investigative, legal,
training and forensic matters.